Empowered lives. Resilient nations.

07.06.2004

Yerevan, Armenia

Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Nature Protection officially marked World Environment Day by organising a media event in the country?s largest waste disposal site in Nubarashen, near Yerevan. In close cooperation with UN Agencies and local and international organisations, UNDP and the Ministry of Nature Protection jointly initiated Environment Week, an advocacy campaign aimed at raising public awareness on environmental issues. Mr. Vardan Ayvazyan, Minister of Nature Protection, Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, representatives of the Government, civil society and the mass media participated in the event.

Nubarashen waste disposal site receives almost all the solid waste produced in Yerevan city and suburbs. As much as 340 tonnes per day, or 102,000 tonnes per year, is deposited in the site. Most of the waste in Nubarashen is domestically produced by the approximately 1,280,000 who live in these areas. Industrial waste accounts for only a small proportion. Large quantities of landfill gas, mainly methane gas, are produced by the waste and discharged into the atmosphere without being fully utilised.

According to Ms. Grande: ?It is very fortunate that Armenia has achieved high rates of economic growth in the last decade. At this stage in the country?s transition, is it critically important to focus on the environmental aspects of economic growth. The sustainable management of natural resources and a clean environment are key to the country?s medium and long-term development. If the environment is destroyed or damaged, the country will suffer. UNDP is currently one of the major donors in the area of nature protection and we are confident that our partnership with Government authorities and the civil society will help to ensure a healthy environment for a healthy people.?

Background: Armenia has acceded to a number of international treaties and conventions focused on the environment. UNDP?s National Capacities Self-Assessment (NCSA) project aims to support the Government in identifying gaps in meeting the requirements of these global conventions. The goal of Environment Week, a joint advocacy initiative of UNDP Armenia and the Ministry of Nature Protection, is to: promote environmental activities at the community level; raise public awareness of ongoing initiatives in the area of nature protection; highlight existing environmental issues; and initiate a public debate on the linkages between human development and nature protection. Environment Week also aims to bring together major actors in nature protection and help find solutions to very urgent and important environmental problems facing the country and the whole Transcaucasian region.

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UNDP is the UN's global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

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